Out and about, 24.2.23.

 Had a visit to the Snipe retail park today, my Dyson had finally given up the ghost so it was into Argos for a new cordless vac, thought I'd have a change from the Dyson and went for a Shark, perhaps that's got more bite!

Went to Argos as one gets Nectar points there, and seeing I've just got a new nectar card it will give that a good boost!.

Had a quick nip into Home Bargains for bird food and other bits and pieces, ie Allergy tabs, after shave and some new nail boards.

No it's not my feminine side coming out, they are for my wooden modelling, find they are excellent for that.

99p for 10, can't complain about that!.

After the mandatory Bacon Buttie at O'neilds Meals buttie wagon it was off to the Ashton Moss Nature Centre, only small but as they say "beautifully formed"!.

Was met with a flock of pigeons and Canadian geese, and this chap.

Muscovy Duck. 

Male and female Tufted Ducks,

A pair of Reed buntings.

Some more enjoying the fat balls

Moorhen scavenging. 

A dunnock, not seen one?, like me for years, then you are looking in the wrong place, I only noticed looking on the ground whereas most people look at the feeders. 

The usual Robin, no wonder they are the National Bird they are everywhere aren't they, but very cute. 

Well off to examine the new cordless vac and make sure its all there and working properly!.

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If the shoe fits .

Buy it in every colour!.

Germs attack people where they are weakest,

That explains the number of head colds!.

Ignorance can be cured,

Stupid is for ever!.

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February 21st -23rd.2.23.

 Tuesday had dinner at Sainsbury's and then straight home as it was threatening rain, but I'd bought a plant for my Jardinière in the hall as it was looking like it was killing another plant with the lack of decent light.

I know it's a plastic one but in the dark hallway it doesn't look too bad, better than a half dead live one and doesn't need watering. Took me an hour to cut off the raffia basket it was in to make it fit in the pot!.

Wednesday had dinner at The Windmill at Denton, it was full price on the day but worth it, can't have cut price offers every time can you.

As it was a bit better weather dropped down to Debdale Ressers with some bird food, which was appreciated by the Magpies for the monkey nuts.

Lots of blue when their wings are open.

Jumping for joy!.

The swan family

The male swan. 

His mate  

Won't be long before they are chasing junior off to start mating for this years brood, nature is cruel at times!.

The Coots are already nest building.

Then when I thought there wasn't anything of interest saw the Great Created Grebes on the other side of the lake, so traipsed though the mud to get a better picture and they were doing their mating dance, and he brought her a gift, it looked like a old black bin liner, she didn't look impressed!.

Lovely to watch them, and right on my doorstep.

Yesterday I finished my latest wooden kit.

The Ugears Mechanical Models, the U is because they are made in The Ukraine!. 

What's in the box?.

Plus the instructions of course, I watched a guy on YouTube do a walk though build but when he got to fitting the blue wings on he gave up and said he would get back when he'd sorted it out.

I was quite proud of myself as I soldiered on and finished it myself!.

The head.

The tail.

The finished model.

The wings flap and the head moves up and down as well.

As you can see here its about two foot wing span and a foot high, no flames out of it's mouth though.

 

So on to the next one, definably cheaper than Lego and a bit more to studying the instructions as the translation is sometimes a bit off!.

Today at Pear Mill my mate David had the sun in his eyes, so borrowed a hat off one of the stands and sat having his dinner with that on, told him I would put the picture on here after he was mocking me with my hearing, one off my aids is away for repair!, plus the background noise is a bit loud.

You should have bought it Dave, it suits you!.

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 What's the difference between ignorance and apathy?.

I don't know and I don't care!!.

You know when your getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

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Wednesday, 15.2.23.

 We had a good day today, us dog walkers with no dogs now had dinner at the Windmill pub in Denton, it was the last day of the 25% off deal so we took advantage off it, you have to these tight days haven't you. 

I'd already had a good meal of Fish and Chips at Sainsburys Café in Denton yesterday and very nice too, just enough for me.

 But I still managed a Carvery today, often amazes me the amount people can pile on their places, one fat lady there had a plate piled about 6 inches high and I thought she's never going to eat that lot, and she didn't, what a plonker. 

I bought a wooden kit last week with three animals in it, it's kept me busy and out of trouble this weekend.

They are only small, but there again only worked out at about £3 each!.

The Butterfly, the ruler gives you a bit of a clue of the scale of them.

Bird on a Perch, can you smell fish it's  saying?.

The regal Swan.

I know my mate Bob will said what will they do?, well Bob they will keep me warm for a couple of minutes on the fire!, as I don't keep them once they are done, have enough keeping the dust down as it is, where does it come from there's only me!

There's one think about these models they don't create a lot of mess as did the boat building, so I'm glad about that and it keeps the little grey cells active as Agatha Christies Poirot used to say. The instructions leave a lot to desired with the interpretation so it takes longer to make than you may think.

So a good day all round, Pear Mill Café tomorrow, on Monday I bought a little purchase, like to buy something now and then to help the place stay open.

This is for my Guinness, always looks better in the right glass doesn't it, plenty of iron in Guinness!.

   Onwards and upwards, don't let them grind you down.

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Somewhere in the world a woman gives birth to a child every minute!.

We have to find this woman and stop her!.

Did you hear of the cannibal who ate his mother in law,

She still didn't agree with him!.

What's the most important thing to do if your captured by cannibals?.

Stay calm and try not to get in a stew.

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Week two of February, 9-13.2.23.

Tomorrow, it will be half way though February!, doesn't time fly when your enjoying yourself!.

Friday cleared out the garage which had got a little out of hand with stuff I'd kept putting in there, ie old TV, old PC, old shredder, you get the picture, then it was off to the tip, soon dropped that lot off and then up to Woodley precinct to the pet shop of Monkey nuts then the charity shop for jigsaws (3).

Then what I'd promised myself, a visit to Taylors Fish and Chip shop, nicely presented and waitress service, but I personally didn't think it was as nice as Morrisons, sorry David!. 

Saturday I had a McDonalds then a stroll onto the ressers where the Swan family were out of the water near the seating area which one doesn't see very often. 

This chap thinks he's Dr Doolittle talking to the animals . 

 They soon wandered over to me when they saw I had food, I was feeding the male swan (C0B) out of my hand, but its beak was too big to feed them like I do the geese with my hand closed!.

The leg tag on Junior for my friend John Worrell who likes to see them.

One of the two Cormorants on the day.

Where's my mate?.

Here he is after a spot of fishing.

Now drying its wings out, it must be awfully cold under that water.

Feeding frenzy, doesn't take long to clear the table.

Where's all the seed gone, we can't get into monkey nuts.

Nice Sunday dinner at Sainsburys, changed my allegiance from Morrison's to Sainsburys after a walk round the shelfs and saw that everything I buy is cheaper there.  

Meanwhile back home sat it my big coat in my nice clear garage (Hide) with my camera trying for pictures of the birds on different settings, but that didn't last long in this weather!.

Last week I'd bought another wooden kit from (where else but Amazon), £7.50 so cheap enough.

Printed off the instructions so they were a bit larger and I could mark off the pieces I'd used.

Instructions were very basic, ie Attach number 1 to Number 1 then 2-2 and 3-3, you get the idea, trouble was the wood wasn't marked and you had to find the piece you wanted off this instruction sheet.

Then you had to fit 145 pieces where ever you thought they should go, it said refer to the picture, but of course that's only a frontal picture! and the pieces are very tight, 145 pieces in a model 6 inches high!.

So after a lot of head scratching and walking away to think, finally finished it.

Very difficult but kept me out of mischief for a few days, good value for money though!.

This kit was stamped out whereas the last few kits have been laser cut, and the smell of burnt wood lingers  for days!.

All good fun and keeps the little grey cells working as Poirot used to say!.

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Three things happen at my age.

First your memory goes and I've forgotten the other two.

 Even though I'm old, I've definitely still got it,

Trouble is no one wants it!.

The older you get 

the longer it takes to get over a good time.

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